Disability or Work?

I have been recommended to try to receive S.S.Disability for Bipolar Disorder. I'm 56 and have worked from age 16 to 50. I haven't worked for almost 6 yrs. but I help my wife with her self-employed business. I haven't been severely depressed or manic since I stopped regular work. Less stress agrees with me evidently. Has anyone been in a situation similar to this?

Well similar. I too worked and contributed most of my life (12 to 45) until I crashed and burned 5 years ago. I haven't worked since and the idea of doing so seems pretty remote. It was a major stressor and source of anxiety. Working was disabling.

Same here. Work was a mess. Been on disability three years now. Best thing I ever did. With my husband's income, we are doing okay.

I got disability but after retiring i had heart attacks, strokes, mini strokes, brain seizures and bouts with cancer. I was my work ethic. the fact you help your wife still gives you work but none that is stressful. Go for it, file and get an income while you can. I worked 35 years and filed so i say why not you? tc and good luck

Aww so sorry, go for it..

Work at what you can enjoy? IF you can still do something, then do it. If that's an avocation while on disability, then so be it.

It was recommended by my cardiologist a year ago to stop working. I attempted to do so. But because I work (now only part-time) I am unable to get out of the net. I'm going to end up dying and I know it. the stress of life is far too much for me and I can't get any help. I was told 5 years ago by a neuro surgeion after having a ruptured brain aneurysm that I would experience difficulties. He said that I would/may not be able to do my line of work, that I would find it difficult. He was right. I can barely do my job. I am not even doing half of what I use to and my work load is getting the best of me. The mistakes and the time that it takes to get one task done sends me over the edge....daily! I've told my boss that I can't do it and that I need help, but she refuses to listen as do the doctors and family. Not only do I suffer with focus issues, but now depression, bipolar and other health issues. I was told that I have to be unemployed for a year with my condition before they would even consider giving me disability or that I would need a major illness or physical impairment. If I could get away from my job it would be a huge burden lifted off of me, but I can't. I can't just walk away from financial obligations and the means of supporting myself. I have enough common sense to know that would be devastating to me. So what are my choices? My hands are tied and there is but only one way out. I figure when I get to my limit (and I am litterally one step away) I will bow out gracefully. SO what I worked since I was 13 years old and am now 52. So what I've paid thousands into SS and am not able to collect it now that I need the help. So what the system not only has robbed me blind and wont help me, I've already lost hundreds of dollars because I've worked part-time for the last 3 years, and the doctors aren't helping, they confuse me and treat me like a psychopath, and family is tired, don't know what to do or want to do and friends are not even few, their void...... even my spouse is distant. I would be doing myself a great favor and no one will even notice that I'm gone. Besides, I'm tired and in physical and mental pain....how much more can one girl take? She doesn't have to take it...thats the answer.

((olanza)) Yes, that "option" kept me alive for a very long time...along with the "not now" mantra... because as long as I could think how to , I didn't need to...and on the other end of the spectrum, when I was very low in the dark I told myself not now because I don't want to make any decisions when I'm not at my best. Just keep it as an "option" though---okay?

IDK why you cannot collect SS or SSDI... keep asking people till you find one who helps. Social workers at the local ER often have consults and resources without charge... you may need to take some self inventories to find out what you now would like to do and are able to do.... can you change doctors? I went through hundreds of quacks before I put together a good team.

Thank you for this. I feel so alone in this. I'm doing my best. I've cut another hour off my daily work schedule to rid some of the stress. All of this is literally pushing me over the edge. I'm feeling hopeless and useless. I have been blessed with a wonderful caring therapist. She is trying to help me but I keep getting in the way. Over thinking, under acting and just not sure and afraid to trust. I need someone else to help but family is busy. I will look into social workers at the ER's. It's about time for a break before I break. I am also working on new pdoc and now I need to see other neuro docs according to my neuro-epileptic doc. I am a mess right now and I know I need help and I am seeking it best as I can.

Thank you again JD

Wishing for best outcome for anyone in the same boat or similar.